& let the anger be the fire, as The Refiner's Fire, of God, that helps you to make a difference, the air, which fans the flames, can be your passion that you know prejudice, the feeling of being left out, so you make a difference, however that be, you are educated, you come from a very educated family, use that knowledge, aligned with God, to make a difference, & it is good to love always, so not in treating those that are comfortable with what is, poorly or staying in that place, either physically or mentally, as it is, but doing what you can do, there or somewhere! When the flames become intense (anger), the use water (baptism) to calm them, channel the gifts & talents that God Gives you, for HIM.

Guest Wrote:I'm a chemical engineering student at a philadelphia college where I attend a campus ministry (CRU). On sundays we carpool to a church in a wealthy suburb of philadelphia-- it's predominantly white, I tag along, I think nothing of it.

My baptism was not what I expected it to be, I was placed last in line and the pastor didn't pass me the microphone; ok, no big deal, I don't like public statements of faith.

During bible study the same pastor exhibits selective deafness, he dismisses my questions, I no longer participate, and this is a problem now, apparently i'm not engaged. He regularly comments on my origin and the good works the church does there, now implying I grew up in the same poor, desolate, crime-ridden conditions he knows; I've repeatedly stated I grew up in a metropolitan city.

Recently we met for lunch after bible study; the pastor came along. He inquired about my family. He brought up drug cartels in my country and asked if my parents had ever been involved, if not, how could they afford my education. I had to reiterate my mother is a lawyer, my father runs a multinational, we live in a city with a flourishing economy, I did not grow up in a shack.

I talked about this recently with friends from CRU. Seems like i'm not the first to bring issues up, others have felt "left out", i've learnt there's carpools that go to predominantly asian, black, and hispanic churches (with folks I don't know yet). I guess it's race above faith.

I'm angry, insulted, and humiliated; I know i'm different, why can't I enjoy my visits to church? Sometimes I ask myself if there's something inherent in faith that causes people to be oblivious, fearful, ignorant, and in some cases even purposefully divisive. When this pastor conducts service, I grow angry and my faith lingers. To everyone else, "that was a great service, praise the Lord".